QUESTION

1

1. Maria, a 66-year-old female, visits her physician complaining of sudden onset abdominal pain, nausea, and diarrhea. She does not take any prescription medications, but does take aspirin each day to lower her risk of heart disease. She has no notable history of digestive system issues. Maria has a family history of pancreatitis. She is slightly obese and has been mostly sedentary since her recent retirement. Her doctor performs multiple tests and diagnoses Maria with diverticulitis.
 
Diverticulitis affects which digestive organ?

QUESTION 2

1. Briefly explain, in your own words, the anatomy of diverticula. Include information about the layers of the alimentary canal.

QUESTION 3

1. Diverticula may be asymptomatic for years or for a lifetime. Describe, in your own words, why diverticula may cause sudden pain.

QUESTION 4

1. In addition to the symptoms Maria reported, which of these symptoms is commonly related to diverticulitis?

QUESTION 5

1. Which part of Maria’s history is NOT a risk factor for diverticulitis?

QUESTION 6

1. Maria’s doctor asks about her diet. Which of these diets is most closely related to diverticulosis/diverticulitis?

QUESTION 7

1. One of the tests Maria’s doctor orders is a fecal occult blood test. It was positive. Briefly describe why this test was positive in Maria’s case.
 

QUESTION 8

1. One of the diagnostic tests that Maria’s doctor ordered was a visual exam of the inside of the large intestine with a camera that is inserted through the anus and rectum. What is this procedure called?

QUESTION 9

1. If Maria’s case is severe, she may choose to undergo a colon resection. Which of these statements describes that procedure?

QUESTION 10

1. Briefly describe the difference between diverticulosis and diverticulitis. Include information about the prevalence of each condition.

QUESTION 11

1. Jim is a truck driver who is on the road for long hours. He admits to eating “unhealthy” foods and often stops at fast food restaurants after his late shifts, choosing cheeseburgers, French fries, and pizza most often. He does not drink alcohol because his job requires him to drive at a moment’s notice, but he does drink coffee throughout the day to keep awake during his odd hours. He has a history of intermittent heartburn, but the chest pain is getting more frequent and more severe, so he decides to seek treatment.
 
What is the medical name for heartburn?

QUESTION 12

1. Briefly describe, in your own words, why chest pain occurs in patients who have heartburn.

QUESTION 13

1. Which of the following anatomical structures is weakened, causing Jim’s heartburn?

QUESTION 14

1. From what you know about Jim, do you think his recent chest pain could be related to more than just heartburn?

QUESTION 15

1. Jim’s doctor would like him to try OTC medication before prescribing something stronger. Which of these medications would likely help Jim? (Select all that apply.)

QUESTION 16

1. List and describe 3 risk factors that Jim has for GERD.

QUESTION 17

1. Jim is at risk for developing a complication known as Barrett’s esophagus. Briefly describe the pathophysiology of this condition. 

QUESTION 18

1. After two weeks, the OTC medication Jim tried isn’t helping, so his doctor wants to perform a diagnostic imaging procedure that uses a light and camera to look for inflammation inside the esophagus and test for Barrett’s esophagus. What is this procedure called?

Colonoscopy

QUESTION 19

1. Which of the following lifestyle changes is NOT typically recommended to patient’s with GERD?

QUESTION 20

1. In addition to Jim’s risk factors, which of these conditions may increase the likelihood of a patient developing GERD?